Training & Research
Training & Research
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Michael Pfaltzgraff
Division Chief - Training & Research
The Training and Research Division provides training opportunities for all career and volunteer emergency responders. This includes initial training for all career fire recruits, continuing education for incumbent firefighters, paramedic initial education, and Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) continuing education. Initial training for volunteer firefighters is conducted in coordination with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. The Training and Research Division also maintains strategic partnerships with the Maryland Council of Fire and Rescue Academies, the Maryland Instructor Certification Review Board (MICRB), the National Fire Academy (NFA), the National Disaster & Emergency Management University, and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management's training division.
Training and Research Division: 2025 Year in Review
Training and Research Division: 2025 Year in Review
The Training and Research Division remains the cornerstone of operational readiness for the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. In 2025, the division expanded its reach through innovative simulation technology, rigorous certification standards, and a steadfast commitment to both career and volunteer personnel development. We continued to see growth in the number of individuals certified as State Emergency Services Instructors through the Maryland Instructor Certification Review Board. We currently sponsor 56 MICRB instructors, including 15 Instructor Evaluators.
Fire Training & Professional Development
Fire Training & Professional Development
The Fire Training section continues to deliver high-level specialized programs designed to enhance command competency and technical mastery. A primary focus this year was the Fire Department Sim Lab, which utilizes advanced command simulation scenarios to prepare career and volunteer chief officers for high-stress incident management.
Additionally, the section maintains the Pump Operator Candidate School (POCS), ensuring a steady pipeline of qualified apparatus drivers, and facilitates the MFSPQB/Pro-Board certification process to ensure all personnel meet national professional standards.
2025 Performance Highlights:
Command Simulation: The Sim Lab hosted 17 in-person sessions (57 individual simulations). The program’s reach was further amplified by quarterly virtual simulations, which saw 343 completions.
Apparatus Operations: Graduated 20 new drivers through the POCS program.
Professional Certification: Streamlined the professional growth of our members by reviewing and approving 195 certification applications.
Community Engagement: The Youth F.I.R.E. Camp successfully hosted two sessions, introducing 29 young participants to the fire service.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Training
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Training
With a provider base exceeding 1,300 clinicians, the EMS Training section manages a massive portfolio of initial certifications and continuing education.
Paramedic & Advanced Skills
The department continues its strong partnerships with Anne Arundel Community College and other educational programs for initial paramedic education. In 2025, 15 students entered the program, of whom 13 successfully completed their journey to becoming ALS clinicians.
Rapid Sequence Induction (RSI) Program
The RSI program also saw significant activity. Our 69 RSI clinicians engaged in over 1,000 hours of intensive education—including peer reviews, advanced airway labs, and simulations—resulting in the recertification of the entire cohort and the addition of 5 newly certified clinicians.
Community & Provider Certifications
The division's commitment to "Seconds Matter" initiatives remains evident in our public and provider training statistics:
Program Type Classes Held Students/Providers Impacted
CPR Anytime & Friends/Family 82 1,948
Heartsaver & Stop the Bleed 98 1,198
BLS Initial & Recertification 186 1,349
BLS Instructor Development 5 34
Provider Recertification Totals:
ALS: 163 providers recertified (9,780 total training hours)
BLS: 1,004 providers recertified (4,016 total training hours)
Recruit Training & Hiring
Recruit Training & Hiring
Recruit Class #65
On November 3, 2025, the department bolstered its field strength with the graduation of Recruit Class #65. This cohort sent 63 probationary firefighters to the field (59 AAFD; 4 Annapolis Fire). Each recruit completed a grueling 603-hour curriculum, earning five MFSPQB certifications. The division also expanded its instructional staff by certifying five new MICRB instructors.
As we closed out 2025, we also focused on instructor development. The department created separate and distinct instructor qualification pathways for adjunct instructors in the fire, rescue, EMS, and special operations disciplines. To date, 47 candidates have participated in the instructor skills development programs, bringing the total number of adjunct instructors in the Training and Research Division to 113.
Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)
In a joint effort with the Health and Safety Division, the Training Division managed a comprehensive 10-week CPAT cycle for 350 prospective hires. This rigorous process included mentoring and orientation sessions to ensure candidate success.
Candidates Evaluated: 350
Successful Completions: 155 candidates advanced to the next hiring stage
Captain Bradley Schriefer
New Recruit Training Staff
New Recruit Training Staff
In December 2025, the Training & Research Division welcomed five new positions to the staff. Previously, Recruit Training Officers were selected from the field and rotated to the academy for one or two recruit classes. These new positions will provide continuity in our Recruit Training programs moving forward, and we are very excited to welcome them to the academy!
Lieutenant Holly Hathaway
Lieutenant Michael Jordan
FF/Paramedic Rebecca Bilheimer
FF/Paramedic Anthony Kurasz
Farewell and Safe Travels!
Farewell and Safe Travels!
At the end of 2025, Lieutenant Andrew Liebno retired from the Anne Arundel County Fire Department after more than seventeen years of service. During his tenure with the Department, Lt. Liebno served 11 years in the Special Operations Division, 4 years in Training & Research, and his last 6 months as a Safety Officer. During his tenure at Training, Lt. Liebno significantly influenced several departmental training programs, including the Command Officer Simulations, Firefighter Safety and Survival Programs, and the proficiency advancement process for new drivers. He also built or improved many of the props at the training academy, which are used almost daily for new and/or refresher training. His impact on the academy and the department will shape our firefighters for years to come. We extend our sincere gratitude for his service to both our citizens and our department members, and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.
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